The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-10

money or his went into wheat deal, went
ON 30 tell of the crash, how Wiltshire 81 Co.
followed him to where hs dined and with
tears in their eyes begged him 10 let them
have more money. He had refused Wilt
shire that morning Hopkins suggested
how much they would take to carry the
deal through.
100000 THE PRICE FIXED.
Hopkins sent such a telegram to the
American Exchange Bank, of Chicago
When the witness returned from dinner he
found a telegram on his desk from that
bank saying that if Wiltshire was there
next morning with 100000 it would be
safe. That was where Kershaw & Co. had
their account He told how Wiltshire,
Hopkins and he talked the matter over and
decided that they would save the bank.
Hopkins had a letter of credit drawn for
100000 and four drafts on the Chemical
Bank of New York for 500, 600 each Wilt
shire was afraid to carry the money lest It be
attached and it was arranged that Gahr
should 60 with him. Gahr was instructed
not TO give up the money without a guar
antee. The next morning he repeated this
warning by telegram and was answered
that it was too late. He then stopped pay
ment on the drafts.
THE END OF THE ROPE.
He became affected at this point, and,
wiping his eyes, went on TO say how he put
all his money into the bank to save it only
to see other directors walk in and check
theirs out. Only Zimmerman of all the
directors offered any assistance Then the
government came in, and the end was
reached.
The counsel next asked in detail whether
he had ever ordered any wheat transac-
tion with various brokers in Chicago, nam
ing them, and he returned the same
answer. In February 1887, he had con-
versation with Hopkins about the Irwin
Green 81 Co. matter and told him he
thought it was dishonest
Here again the court stopped the witness
from detailing conversations.
About the $2S5, 900 transaction with the
Fidelity Bank ne had no knowledge what
ever until t3ld of it in Jail at Dayton Hop
kins had transactions, through Hoyt, with
Kershaw e. Co., and he was trying to hedge
against our losses by Wiltshire. 81 loaned
money TO Hopkins said the witness, land
paid drafts for him, but l used my own
money, and never took a penny out of the
banks funds for this purpose. Hopkins
went in $4,000 with another broker, and
helped him. This was paid back, and the
money went into the bank. There was also
some profit This also was hedging opera
ton"
DEALS WITH OTHER FIRMS.
The witness was then examined as to the
assets of Swift's Iron and Steel Works, the
Riverside Rolling Mill, the firm of Il. j..
Harper a. Co., and of himself. He made
the aggregate several million dollars and
said all the transactions of these several firms
and companies with the Fidelity Bank
were legitimate He was now about to
leave the stand. Mr.. Blackburn again
asked him if he had anything to do with
Hopkins wheat deals through Broker Hoyt.
He answered that he paid Hopkins a draft,
but he did 1t to protect the bank. 81 was
interested through Hopkins to that extent
We would first protect the interests OF the
bank. and after that was done. il there was
any profit left, it was to be divided between
Hopkins and myself"
A sensation ran through the court room
as these words were uttered. Mr.. Black
burn to break the force of the admission,
asked: "Did you at any time have any in
tent in all these tradings to defraud the
bank or anybody elsep
''None in the world" was answered.
MISS MATTHEW'S IN TEARS
Miss Matthews at this point was observed
to be in tears.
The cross-examination was brief and
pointed. 1t brought out the single fact
that he purchased certificates of deposit
with his own checks, which were not
charged to his account.
Two or three other witnesses-W. Gahr,
Richards and Woodrough-were called,
mainly to tell about Harper's assets, but the
government counsel dismissed most of them
without cross examination, or by drawing
from them some damaging testimony. The
only comfort obtained was in the testimony
of Mr. Marchant, of the First National
Bank. who showed that Harper had large
deposits in that bank in 1886 and 1897. The
testimony is not quite closed, but certainly
will be tomorrow